The Little Lockwood

Thirty

EDITED

Dear Ty,

I wish I could really tell you about Brandon. He makes the pain go away. Being among my own kind, it's refreshing. I'm not lonely anymore.

Debria.

Hesitating with the computer mouse in my hand, I finally click send.

It's been three weeks since I've moved to Alaska to meet Brandon.

To say we were compatible was an understatement. We got along so well, it's like we are soul mates. But it's honestly probably just because we are both Lycanthropes.

Brandon is out running in wolf form, his father in the kitchen preparing dinner for the three of us.

Mr. Keys, Brandon's father, absolutely adores me. He's taken on a fatherly role for me, he was so excited to come home and see that the last female Lycanthrope had come to find his son. He has made marriage suggestions to the both of us in the last few weeks, but Brandon and I shrug them off.

I don't know if I could ever love Brandon like I loved Damon. But we do have an undeniable connection.

I know Brandon wants to be more than friends, but honestly, he has been so respectful about everything. He has made no moves, though he does flirt a bit. He just gives me space and lets me be my own person. He knows I can handle myself.

Getting up from the small wooden desk where the computer was I wave to Mr. Keys.

"I'm going to go find Brandon since dinner is almost ready," I smile at him as I walk towards the door.

He nods, not looking up from chopping the onions on the counter, 

"Tell him to bring back my booze too, I know he snuck some." Mr. Keys chuckles.

"Will do sir," I giggle slightly as I close the door behind me.

Walking east, I find myself on the little trail Brandon showed to me a few weeks ago. I've grown to know the Alaskan wilderness almost as well as the East Coast of the US.

Knowing Brandon will be by the creek, or rather small river, I step off the path and head south. I listen to the trees sway in the wind, the ground squish under my sneakers, the distant trickle of water rushing over rocks.

I tie my hair up into a messy bun and pull my new brown jacket tighter around me. It is chilly after all.

I see the back of Brandon as he sits on a flat granite rock facing the little river, I sniff and smell he has scotch in his canteen.

"Your father said to bring back the booze, Brandon," I snicker as he jumps at the sound of my voice.

I sit beside him and take the canteen, then I gracefully chug two huge gulps.

His eyes widen as I take another two gulps,

"I should probably tell you to slow down."

I shrug as I hand the canteen back, 

"But you won't."

"You know, you never told me about this hybrid. The vampire werewolf mix. You mentioned he is over a thousand years old?" Brandon asks.

I gulp a little, unsure of what to say about Klaus.

"There isn't much to say. He killed me, but an elixir brought me back to life. He killed the other Lycanthrope to prove a point to me and my friends. But he bows to me, to us. Lycans are huge wolf sized horses. Werewolves are tiny normal sized wolves. Despite all of that, Klaus came to care for me in more ways than just as friends. He craves power in all forms, and I presented a challenge. But really he wants a throne over all the supernatural and I think he thought I could be his doorway to that. And honestly I don't know how I feel about him. He is a terrible person, yet he drew me in. Doesn't matter now, I'm here with you," I say to Brandon and gently touch his cheek before looking away and into the dark water of the river.

"But you mentioned before how he deeply cared for his family," Brandon says slowly, looking out over the river as well.

I nod and sigh, 

"Yes, he values family above all, well except maybe power. That was definitely one thing I didn't even consider until recently, that if I ever did come to care for him. I don't think he would've ever put me before his siblings."

"Debria, my duty would never be to find power. If we were to ever be married, my duty would be to you, only you. And if that's not what proper men do...," Brandon trails off a little as we stare into each other's eyes.

"Thank you Brandon. Now let's go, your father has dinner waiting," I smile at him as we stand up.

I start to walk ahead of him and then realize he isn't following me.

Turning around I see a giant brown wolf, larger than my wolf. The familiar bright blue eyes tell me it's still Brandon and I giggle.

"I'll race you," I wink at him before taking a few stride and leaping into the air.

I shift into my wolf, hitting the ground on all fours I race towards the Keys house.